News
Whittier Street Health Center Recognized by State for Behavioral Health Initiatives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Whittier Street Health Center Recognized by State for Behavioral Health Initiatives
BOSTON, May 17, 2016 – The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission has recognized the Whittier Street Health Center for its work in integrating behavioral health into its primary care programs by officially designating the health center as being on the “Pathway to PCMH PRIME.”
The designation recognizes the Whittier Street Health Center for the steps it has taken to incorporate behavioral health into its primary care as well as its status as a 2014 Level 3 National Committee for Quality Assurance Recognized PCMH, or Patient-Centered Medical Home. Whittier has made a commitment to seek PCMH PRIME Certification within 18 months of its PCMH PRIME application to the Health Policy Commission.
“Whittier Street Health Center’s mission is to provide high-quality, reliable and accessible primary care and support services to our patients,” said Frederica Williams, President and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. “An important part of that mission is early diagnosis and treatment of behavioral health issues at the primary care level. We know that behavioral health conditions, such as mental illnesses and substance use disorders, can be amplified by delayed diagnosis.”
PCMH PRIME promotes best practices for integrating behavioral health care into a primary care setting by increasing patient access to behavioral health care services and supporting evidence-based guidelines in treating patients. PCMH PRIME also provides opportunities for practices to receive technical assistance from the Health Policy Commission and recognizes practices that deliver comprehensive care by addressing both physical and behavioral health in the practice setting.
About Whittier Street Health Center (www.wshc.org)
Whittier Street Health Center is a Joint Commission accredited, private, non-profit, independently licensed community health center dedicated to providing high quality, reliable and accessible primary healthcare and support services for diverse populations to promote wellness and eliminate health and social disparities. Serving more than 30,000 clients with approximately 120,000 clinic visits and 20,000 community outreach visits annually, Whittier has a patient base which is ethnically and racially diverse. Whittier provides a comprehensive array of 40 healthcare programs and services designed to meet the primary health care, behavioral health, and social needs of the community. Whittier is recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance as a level 3 (highest level) patient-centered medical home.
For More Information, Contact
Tom Nutile, Colette Phillips Communications
Office: 617.357.5777 Mobile: 508.397.2810